Balance Disorders

A Balance Disorder is a condition that causes one to feel dizzy or unsteady on their feet.  It may significantly impair the ability to perform activities of daily living. It is most commonly a result of the body’s complex balancing system failing, with the three stabilizing mechanisms—eyes, muscles, peripheral and central nerves, joints, and the inner ear —working in perfect harmony to achieve balance. If something is wrong with this, the brain receives conflicting signals about the body’s position in space, leading to an imbalance.

How Does the Balance System Work?

To achieve balance, the body uses data from multiple organ systems that work together. The vestibular system within the inner ear is central to communication between the brain and head position, movement, and spatial orientation. The sense of sight provides data about the external environment, and proprioceptors in joints and muscles give data on the position and movement of the body. The brain processes all this information to maintain our balance, coordinate our movements, and prevent falls.

When a part of this system is faulty or out of position, the result could be a balance disorder. The brain receives false or improper signals, which create dizziness and/or loss of balance. Disorders can be mild or severe, and short-term or long-term, depending on their cause.

Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore

Balance disorders come in many forms, and their effects extend far beyond dizziness. People often feel as though they are floating or spinning, or that they are swaying or feeling lightheaded. Other people will report that the floor is moving. These sensations are usually accompanied by other symptoms, including:

  • Blurred vision or double vision
  • Disorientation or lack of concentration
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Frequent falls or fear of falling
  • Problem walking in a straight line
  • Sensitivity to motion or sounds

Symptoms aggravate with abrupt head movement, rapid getting out of bed, or driving at night or in a heavy traffic environment. If left untreated, symptoms will ultimately result in social isolation, fear, and depression caused by avoidance of injury or humiliation.

Different Types of Balance Disorders (to name a few)

As many balance disorders disrupt the body’s stability, they occur due to various reasons and manifest differently in other individuals. Some of the most common include:

  • Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): Short whirling spells, precipitated by alterations in the position of the head. This results from the derangement of tiny calcium crystals within the inner ear.
  • Vestibular Neuritis: Infections of the inner ear or vestibular nerve cause symptoms of acute, severe vertigo and disturbance of balance.
  • Vestibular Migraine: A condition leading to nausea that causes dizziness and imbalance.

Although the disorders share similar presenting features, they differ in their treatment. Proper diagnosis is hence essential for recovery.

What Causes Balance Disorders?

The inner ear is the most susceptible and most frequently the target. Viral infections, head injury, and age can destroy the vestibular structures and nerves. Neurological diseases like Parkinson’s disease, stroke, or multiple sclerosis can also impair the balance function of the brain to interpret. In others, dizziness and confusion may be caused by poor circulation or heart disease, which affects the levels of oxygen reaching the brain. 

Dehydration, hypoglycemia, and anxiety are among the most frequent reasons. Some drugs, specifically those sedating the nervous system or drugs that have sedative effects on the inner ear, can also induce dizziness or balance problems as a side effect.

The Diagnostic Journey

Treatment of a balance disorder begins with a comprehensive evaluation of the patient’s history, lifestyle, and symptoms. The physical examination and the special testing are then done to identify the cause. They may be:

  • Videonystagmography (VNG): Examines eye movements to diagnose inner ear and brain disorders.
  • Posturography: Examines how an individual relies on vision, the inner ear, and muscles to stay balanced.
  • Rotary chair test: Evaluates the vestibular system’s response to rotation.
  • Tests of hearing: Identify inner ear damage.
  • MRI or CT scans: Can be requested if neurological diseases are suspected.

The treatment regimen can then be tailored once the cause is ascertained to stabilize and treat the symptoms.

Treatment Options That Help Regain Control

Balance disorders are treated in various ways depending on the cause. A series of treatments and lifestyle changes helps most people. Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) is one of the most effective nonsurgical treatments for balance disorders.

VRT is a type of physical therapy that aims to improve balance through specific exercises that retrain the brain to respond more effectively to balance-related messages. Drugs are used to control symptoms such as nausea, fear, or swelling. 

In BPPV, the Epley maneuver is a series of head movements that can reposition tiny calcium carbonate crystals in the inner ear, resulting in complete relief. Limiting salt intake, avoiding caffeine, and regulating fluid intake can help control symptoms in chronic diseases such as Ménière’s disease. Surgery is sometimes necessary for architectural defects, but it is relatively uncommon.

Why You Should Not Wait for Evaluation

The majority of individuals ignore less serious balance problems, hoping they will go away or believing they are a sign of aging. But by ignoring the symptoms, one allows possible underlying issues to progress, and in others, it results in unnecessary damage. An early diagnosis leads to successful treatment and improved quality of life. Although the disorder cannot be fixed, most of the balance disorders can be treated and improved by successfully treating the disorder and modifying lifestyle.

Time to Act

If you or your relative has been experiencing inexplicable dizziness, instability, or repeated bouts of imbalance, don’t let your condition worsen. Booking an expert assessment may be the secret to identifying the cause and starting the path to recovery or symptom alleviation.

At Chester Neurology, we listen closely, perform meticulous tests, and tailor care to your individual needs. Whether we help you find the source of a vexing issue, provide rehab options, or help make you feel strong again, we are here for you.

To schedule an appointment, please call (914) 816-1941 or email info@chesterneurology.com

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